New guinea impatiens plant named ‘Dongiswepila’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Dongiswepila’ characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; glossy dark green-colored leaves; freely and early flowering habit; red purple-colored flowers with very light red purple-colored centers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Impatiens hawkeri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DONGISWEPILA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hawkeri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dongiswepila’.

the new Impatiens plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Koka, Ethiopia and Encinitas, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new early and freely flowering New Guinea Impatiens plants with attractive flowers and good garden performance.

The new Impatiens plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in November, 2015 in Koka, Ethiopia of a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number MM-0008, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Impatiens hawkeri identified as code number NN13-001005-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Impatiens plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. In April, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Impatiens plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Encinitas, Calif. Since June, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Impatiens plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Impatiens have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylight and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dongiswepila’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dongiswepila’ as a new and distinct Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly         mounding plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   5. Freely and early flowering habit.     -   6. Red purple-colored flowers with very light red purple-colored         centers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are not as compact as plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Impatiens have larger flowers than plants         of the female parent selection.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are red purple and         very light red purple in color whereas flowers of plants of the         female parent selection are lavender and white in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens branch more uniformly than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are red purple and         very light red purple in color whereas flowers of plants of the         male parent selection are salmon coral and white in color.

Plants of the new Impatiens can be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Duemaglasp’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,778. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Duemaglasp’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than plants of         ‘Duemaglasp’.     -   2. Lower leaf surfaces of plants of the new Impatiens are green         in color whereas the lower leaf surfaces of plants of         ‘Duemaglasp’ are deep red in color.     -   3. Plants of the new Impatiens flower about one week earlier         than plants of ‘Duemaglasp’.

Plants of the new Impatiens can also be compared to plants of Impatiens hawkeri ‘Kialdan’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,029. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Impatiens differ primarily from plants of ‘Kialdan’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Impatiens are more compact than plants of         ‘Kialdan’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Impatiens are red purple and         very light red purple in color whereas flowers of plants of         ‘Kialdan’ are light purple and white in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Impatiens plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Impatiens plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (sheet 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongiswepila’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (sheet 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dongiswepila’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the winter and spring in 20-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Encinitas, Calif. and under cultural practices typical of commercial New Guinea Impatiens production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 26° C., night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels ranged from 4,000 to 5,000 lux. Plants were 19 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2017 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens hawkeri ‘Dongiswepila’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN-0008, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Impatiens             hawkeri identified as code number NN13-001005-001, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About five to             seven days at day temperatures about 27° C. and night             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at day temperatures about 27° C.             and night temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to outwardly             spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; broad inverted             triangle in overall shape; freely branching habit; bushy and             dense appearance; moderately vigorous growth habit and             moderate to rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 28 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 44 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching with about eight to twelve             primary lateral branches each with multiple secondary             branches.         -   Length.—About 23 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 1.3 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 3.25 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading, about 45°             from vertical.         -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 146A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Typically in whorls or opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 8.9 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.1 cm.         -   Shape.—Obovate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Long acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate with ciliation.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth to slightly             rugose, glabrous; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth to slightly             rugose, glabrous; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: More green than N189A;             venation, close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 146A; venation, close to 144B.         -   Petiole length.—About 3.2 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Petiole texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             glossy.         -   Petiole texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             somewhat glossy.         -   Petiole color, upper surface.—Close to 144A to 144B             occasionally and slightly tinged with close to 59A.         -   Petiole color, lower surface.—Close to 144A to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single axillary flowers             that are roughly rectangular in shape; freely flowering             habit, typically about six opening and fully opened flowers             per lateral branch; flowers are mostly flat and positioned             above and beyond the foliar plane, flowers typically face             mostly upright to outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers typically last about four to seven             days on the plant under greenhouse conditions; petals             self-cleaning, gynoecium persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse             conditions; in the garden, flowering from spring until fall             in California; early flowering habit, plants typically begin             flowering about twelve weeks from unrooted cuttings.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 6.5 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat             glossy Color: Close to 144A.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.4 cm by 5.2 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five per flower in a             single whorl with one banner petal, two lateral petals and             two lower petals. Length, banner petal: About 2.4 cm.             Length, lateral petals: About 3.8 cm. Length, lower petals:             About 2.6 cm. Width, banner petal: About 2.8 cm. Width,             lateral petals: About 3.1 cm. Width, lower petals: About             3.1 cm. Shape, banner petals: Broadly cordate. Shape,             lateral and lower petals: Cordate. Apex, all petals:             Cordate. Base, all petals: Attenuate. Margin, all petals:             Entire, slightly undulate. Texture and luster, all petals,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy;             iridescent. Color, all petals: When opening, upper surface:             Close to N57A. When opening, lower surface: Close to N57C.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to N57B to N57C; towards             the base, close to 62D; venation, similar to lamina; color             becoming closer to between 64C and N57C with development.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to between 64C and N57C;             venation, similar to lamina; color becoming closer to N66D             with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three in a single whorl;             two laterals are opposite and the third modified into an             elongated spur. Lateral sepal length: About 1.1 cm. Lateral             sepal width: About 4 mm. Lateral sepal shape: Narrowly             deltoid. Lateral sepal apex: Long acuminate. Lateral sepal             base: Truncate, fused. Lateral sepal margin: Entire. Lateral             sepal texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; somewhat glossy. Lateral sepal color, upper             surface: Close to 144B to 144C. Lateral sepal color, lower             surface: Close to 144A. Spur length: About 4.8 cm. Spur             diameter: At flower, about 2 mm; at apex, less than 1 mm.             Spur shape: Acicular, curved. Spur texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; somewhat glossy. Spur color: Close to             N144D overlain with close to 59A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 3.4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Angle: About 30° to 45° from vertical. Strength: Strong;             flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Five fused at             anthers; filaments free. Filament length: About 4 mm.             Filament color: Close to 158A. Anther length: About 4 mm.             Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to N155B. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 158A. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Stigma             shape: Crested. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Style length:             About 4 mm. Style color: Close to 144A. Ovary color: Close             to 144A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Impatiens. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Impatiens     have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common     to Impatiens plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Impatiens have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate temperatures ranging     from about 5° C. to about 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Impatiens plant named ‘Dongiswepila’ as illustrated and described. 